I have been noodling over trying to make a system where having a low score is not necessarily a bad thing. It is easy for Charisma. You can make a low Charisma score = fearsome. Not so sure what could be done for the other ability scores...
Challenge accepted!
High STR = Low Manual Dexterity (missile weapons, lock and trap work). Fingers like hotdogs. Low STR = High Manual Dexterity. That works. You don't need two separate stats for manual and bodily dexterity - you need reversed Strength for manual.
DEX is bodily dexterity (AC, climbing, stealth), and low DEX = high CON (physical steadiness, tankitude). So we collapse those two stats into one.
You can get hit points from high DEX (dodge points) or low DEX (tank points). Outstanding.
High INT is book larnin'. Low INT is street smarts. Your players aren't morons, why should their characters be?
High WISdom is awareness and sensitivity. Low WISdom is willpower and steadiness. Probably it needs a different name - Awareness, Perception, Openness? but then it did already.
A cleric can draw on either extreme. Illustration:
Low CHA can be intimidation (affects opponent's Morale rolls) if high CHA is ingratiation (affects their Reaction rolls).
Assumptions we're making:
1. Adventurers are exceptional. In any given domain they either have something going for them, or are totally average.
2. Some traits like muscle mass and fine motor skills are inversely correlated. Probably no more unrealistic than the default assumption that all skills are completely uncorrelated (most glaringly STR and CON). Again, would a complete weakling and klutz really set out on the path of adventure?
3. Characters can still (quite unlikely) be boring, but rarely useless.
Thanks, Random Wizard!
Similar to the philosophy of Hi/Lo Heroes. Each "ability" is part of a linked pair. Make one high, the other is low. So you could choose to be a Strong Hero or a Fast Hero. Can't be good at both. I like this idea.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious complaint here, of course, is that one can't be panther-fast, rippling-muscled Conan in such a game. But then, the whole idea of starting at level 1 kind of rules out D&D as a pulp hero simulator.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Wisdom is the logical opposite of Bravery. Maybe paladins should have a maximum Wisdom stat instead of a minimum.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about "Empathy" for the Wisdom rename, seems to fit your new definition.
I was trying to mock up some mechanical game effects. Just a few ideas...
ReplyDeleteStrength
Agility / Muscle
+3 / +2 / +1 / 0 / -1 / -2 / -3
Disarm Traps, TOHIT bows?, Hide in Shadows?
-3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
TOHIT melee?, rock climbing, lifting
Wisdom
Willpower / Empathy
+3 / +2 / +1 / 0 / -1 / -2 / -3
to saves against mind influence
-3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
to casting healing spells
Charisma
Intimidation / Charm
+3 / +2 / +1 / 0 / -1 / -2 / -3
to instilling fear, intimidate guards
-3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
to bartering, casting charm spells
Yep, that's about it, except hiding should be whole-body agility (DEX vs. CON) and I would use "Finesse" as opposed to "Agility". Picking pockets, locks, doing other kinds of handiwork.
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ReplyDeleteI have to be the contrarian .. .statistically, smart people tend to booth brave and physically fit . .. the profession in America with the highest level of middle-aged fitness is physicians … I PREFER to use low ability scores as a role playing opportunity …
Low strength score does not have to imply that one is a weakling, but could reflect a prior shoulder or back injury.
A low dexterity is not always a lack of agility, but could represent myopia or a knee injury.
A low score in constitution could represent a respiratory limitation such as asthma OR could simulate phobia, PTSD or cowardice.
A low intelligence score does not have to imply that a character is a moron or imbecile; it could represent illiteracy, hyperactivity or overzealous superstitions.
A low wisdom score does not always imply lack of insight or awareness, but often represents a character struggling with the familiar problems of addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.) and is not necessarily a lack of insight or perception.
Sure, you can have high INT and high STR in the system, it's just a question of whether your INT comes from the books or the streets ...
DeletePS: I also like the idea of low scores representing the kind of "drawbacks" that other RPGs treat as point sinks in chargen.
DeleteI like this idea.
Deletealso poor typing is not necessarily a lack of intelligence, but represents years of damge caused by martial arts
ReplyDeleteSo an inverse STR-DEX relationship then? ;)
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ReplyDeletei use intelligence to represent fine motor skills; i.e., watch makers and octopi...
while dexterity is used for interacting with the macro environment; gymnasts and thieves .. .
hence
nerds would be good at typing ,
while jocks are good at throwing things.
Typing isn't necessarily fine motor skills. I could be muscle memory.
DeleteIf you're going to use this system then you should also have something like 3rd. edition feats to lessen the penalties for specific skills to represent specialized training. For instance, just because someone has beefy strength doesn't they can be good at picking pockets, then just need more training than someone who's a little lighter.
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